Traitor's Moon Read Online Free PDF

strongest they’ve been since the Great War.”
    â€œNecromancers?” Alec’s mouth tightened. “I suppose it was too much to hope that stopping Mardus would put an end to all that. You and your people are welcome to make camp in the meadow tonight.”
    â€œThanks,” said Micum. “Come on, Beka. Let’s get your people settled.”
    It took her a moment to realize that Alec wanted time alone with Seregil.
    â€œI expected him to be happy about going home, even if it is only for a little while,” she mused, following her father down the trail. “He looked as if he’d received a sentence.”
    Micum sighed. “He did, a long time ago, and I guess it hasn’t really been changed. I’ve always wanted to know the story behind what happened to him, but he never said a thing about it. Not even to Nysander, as far as I know.”
    A pair of otters was frisking on the far bank, but Alec doubted Seregil saw them, or that it was news of the war that had left him so pensive. Joining him at the water’s edge, Alec waited.
    When they’d finally become lovers, it had done much more than deepen their friendship. The Aurënfaie word for the bond between them was
talímenios
. Even Seregil couldn’t fully interpret it, but by then there’d been no need for words.
    For Alec, it was a unity of souls forged in spirit and flesh. Seregil had been able to read him like a tavern slate since the day they’d met; now his own intuition was such that at times he almost knew his friend’s thoughts. As they stood here now, he could feel anger, fear, and longing radiating from Seregil in palpable waves.
    â€œI told you a little about it once, didn’t I?” Seregil asked at last.
    â€œOnly that you were tricked into committing some crime, and that you were exiled for it.”
    â€œAnd for once you didn’t ask a hundred questions. I’ve always appreciated that. But now—”
    â€œYou want to go back,” Alec said softly.
    â€œThere’s more to it than that.” Seregil folded his arms tightly across his chest.
    Alec knew from long experience how difficult it was for Seregil to speak of his past. Even talímenios hadn’t changed that, and he’d long since learned not to pry.
    â€œI better finish plucking this goose,” Seregil said at last. “Tonight, after the others are settled, I promise we’ll talk. I just need time to take this all in.”
    Alec clasped Seregil’s shoulder, then left him to his thoughts.
    â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢
    Alone at last, Seregil stared blindly across the water, feeling unwelcome memories rising like a storm tide.
    the solid finality of the knife’s bloody handle clenched in his fist—choking, suffocating in the darkness—angry faces, jeering—
    Bowing his head, he pressed his hands over his face like an eyeless mask and sobbed.

3
O LD G HOSTS S TIRRING
    A n early half-moon was already rising in the evening sky when Seregil returned. Beka’s riders had set up camp and had cook fires going. He looked for familiar faces, wondering which decuria she’d brought, and was surprised at how few people he recognized.
    â€œNikides, isn’t it?” he asked, approaching a small group gathered around the nearest fire.
    â€œLord Seregil! It’s good to see you again,” the young man exclaimed, clasping hands with him.
    â€œAre you still with Sergeant Rhylin?”
    â€œI’m here, my lord,” Rhylin called, coming out of one of the little tents.
    â€œAny idea what all this is about?” asked Seregil.
    Rhylin shrugged. “We go where we’re told, my lord. All I know is that we head back down toward Cirna from here, to meet up with the rest of the turma. The captain’s waiting for you over at the cabin. Just so you know, she’s in one hell of a hurry to move on.”
    â€œSo I gathered, Sergeant.